PMG-Certified Notes Lead the Way at Heritage Auctions’ Long Beach Sales

Notes certified by Paper Money Guaranty® (PMG®) achieved excellent results at Heritage Auctions’ Long Beach Expo sales held September 4–9, 2019, filling all top 10 slots for highest-realizing notes in both the US and world paper money auctions.

In the US Currency Signature Auction, a 1928 $50 Gold Certificate graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated EPQ was the top lot with a price realized of $90,000. It is one of only three Uncirculated examples known to exist.

1928 $50 Gold Certificate graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated EPQ, Price Realized: $90,000 Click images to enlarge.

Next, an 1872 National Gold Bank & Trust Company, San Francisco $10 graded PMG 25 Very Fine realized $43,200. Only about 20 National Gold Bank Notes are known to exist in Very Fine condition, while most fall in the Good to Fine range.

An 1861 Confederate States of America $50 realized $38,400. Graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated, this note is likely the finest-known example of the highest-denomination in the T15 intaglio engraved series.

An 1861 $10 Demand Note graded PMG 25 Very Fine realized $36,000. This note is the sole highest graded of the four that PMG has certified.

Rounding out the top five for US currency, a 1902 Dinuba, California $20 graded PMG 20 Very Fine, realized $33,600. This note is unique for the bank and was offered here for the first time ever at public sale.  

In the World Paper Money Signature Auction, a Palestine Currency Board 1929 £50 note graded PMG 30 Very Fine realized $78,000. The second-highest denomination of the Palestinian Pound, it is very rare, with just a handful of issued notes existing today. Indeed, there are only five graded notes for this date variety on the PMG Population Report.

Two rare, high-denomination British East African notes from 1921 also sold for significant amounts. An East Africa Currency Board 1921 1,000/- Shillings graded PMG 53 About Uncirculated realized $72,000, and an East Africa Currency Board 1921 200/- Shillings graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated realized $63,000.

East Africa, Currency Board 1921 1,000/- Shillings graded PMG 53 About Uncirculated, Price Realized: $72,000 Click image to enlarge

A vibrant and excessively rare Canada 1904 Bank of New Brunswick $5 graded PMG 40 Extremely Fine realized $18,000. This note is one of only 12 issued and is the only example in the PMG Population Report.

Also realizing $18,000 were a Tunisia 1846 50 Riyals graded 25 Very Fine and another Canadian note, a 1903 Bank of New Brunswick $10 graded PMG 35 Choice Very Fine EPQ.

For more information about PMG’s certification services for US and world paper money, visit PMGnotes.com. For more information about Heritage Auctions, visit HA.com.

Prices realized include buyer’s premium.